Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has urged the Nigerian Army to be transparent in the implementation of Operation Python Dance 3 recently launched in the South-east.
Umahi stated this while receiving in audience the newly posted General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Abubarkar Sadiq Maikobi at the Government House, Abakaliki.
He advised the military “not to detach themselves from the masses so as to calm the doubt in their mind that the military have been planted as instruments to rig elections”.
He said it would be an act of timidity for anybody or group that has jurisdiction over people to cut off interaction with the people, he encouraged the new GOC “to make use of his highly reputed godly nature and professionalism to cooperate with government towards ensuring that a more tranquil atmosphere was maintained in the South-east before, during and after the general elections”.
His words: “Actually, your job is not an easy one, coming at a time when MASSOB in the south-east are saying there will be no election; it is coming at a time that the society suspect the security agencies as an agent to rig elections; it is coming at a time there is so much crises with our neighbouring states.
“So the job is quite a very difficult one at a very difficult time.
“I have no doubt that you are a complete gentleman and very professional soldier who has succeeded in your carrier as an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So, we must do everything possible to assure the masses of this country of the neutrality of the Security Agencies
“God Almighty has already ordained who will win the election, starting from the House of Asseombly to Governor and so on and so forth.
However, flagging off the exercise also known as Egwueke 3 at the Military Cantonment, Nkwagu, Abakaliki Ebonyi state capital, , Major- General Maikobi pleaded with the people of South-east geopolitical zone to co-operate with the Army in its operation python dance 3 across the zone. He noted that the exercise held across the country was in the best interest of the people.
He said that Ebonyi state was selected as the location for the step up headquarters for the exercise, leading to its flag off in the state.
Maikobi stated that similar exercises were held across the zone in 2016 and 2017 to checkmate security challenges which according to him were inherent in the area in those years.
Similarly, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide under the leadership of Okechukwu Isiguzoro thanked the South-east Governors for their timely intervention to ensure that the military never Confront MASSOB, IPOB and Coalition of Biafra groups During the Operation Python Dance3, as the Previous Exercises never go down well with Ndigbo.
According to him, “South-east is very peaceful, and any attempt to intimidate innocent youths and women will affect the electoral fortunes of president Buhari and South-east Governors seeking reelection”.
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